If You Like…

While fantasy is often thought of as high or epic, like wizards and orcs and elves and hobbits having an “epic” battle, there’s a lot more variety within various subgenres. The largest fantasy sub-genre is urban fantasy, which has its own section in the fiction loop at Lawrence Public Library.

Urban fantasy is just that, a blend of the magic and the mundane, where the reader encounters the supernatural in a real-world (usually) urban setting. The line between fantasy and urban fantasy is not always black and white, and some readers will enjoy books from both.

While all fantasy titles have some element of magic or the supernatural, they can fall all over the map otherwise, with some highly literary titles and others that are just fast-paced fun. Some have heavy romance subplots, some are all action and adventure. It’s an eclectic genre worth dipping your toes into if you’ve never tried it! Whether a dedicated fan or an urban fantasy newbie, one of these titles might interest you.

If you love watching BBC television shows, our latest like, try, why is for you! Whether your a fan of historical shows, sci-fi, or mysteries, there’s a book on here for you to check out. There’s a mix of memoirs, nonfiction, graphic novels, young adult fiction, and novels — something for everyone! Read More..

Science fiction is a genre with many classic titles that have endured the test of time. But as new technologies emerge and culture changes, the genre continues to evolve. Here are some newer releases that are natural follow ups to classics, whether you are a die-hard fan or a new sci-fi reader. Read More..

Barbara Kingsolver is a novelist, essayist and poet. Her lyrical writing is character-centered, emphasizing social justice and environmental biodiversity with a strong sense of place. She has been recognized with many awards, including the National Humanities Medal and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for the body of her work.

If you enjoy reading Kingsolver you may also appreciate these recent acclaimed books by like-minded authors. Read More..

Inspirational fiction is one of our most popular genre categories at Lawrence Public Library. If you are looking to try out an inspirational novel for the first time, or are a dedicated fan looking for a new favorite, you’ll find a book on this list. Read More..

Whether you love graphic novels or are new to the format, we’re hear to help. This guide covers three different genres within graphic novels: superheroes, fantasy/sci-fi, and horror. If you’re looking to check out more 2014 releases in graphic novels, check out this list of Fisher’s favorites in the catalog. Read More..

If you love sassy and smart slapstick mysteries, chances are you’re a Janet Evanovich fan. If you’re looking to branch out and try some new authors or series, we’ve got some suggestions for you. Read More..

Need some holiday spirit? No, not the holiday spirits that haunted Scrooge; some fun holiday spirits! Here are three items perfect for that night for the fireside with cocoa and cookies. (Just be sure to leave a few for Santa!) Read More..

We’ve explored a lot of fiction in our like, try, why series, but this week we thought we’d offer some reading suggestions for fans of nonfiction. These books are all written by women who examine culture. Read More..